Minister Yami confused by the stance of Dr Mahat on Seven Trent

Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hisila Yami on Monday said she does not understand why Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat does not want the proposed contract with the Severn Trent Water International Limited reviewed.

"I wonder why minister Mahat is not happy when I want to have the proposed contract reviewed," she said, addressing a ceremony organised to lay the foundation stone of a water storage tank at Kumbheshwor on Monday.

Mahat has been insisting that the proposed contract be passed in its present form, while Yami has been demanding that the contract with the controversial party be reviewed.

The ministers have had several rounds of meeting on the issue, but the issue has not yet reached the cabinet. Yami has said she will take the issue to the cabinet for review.

She also claimed that minister Mahat is speaking the donor's language.

"As the country is all set to establish a federal political system, leaders should lobby for launch of projects in other cities of the country," she said, adding that this will ultimately ease pressure of population on the over-populated capital.

" We cannot address the scarcity of water with one Melamchi. Even 10 such projects will not be enough to meet the demand for water if people continue to pour into Kathmandu. We should develop other cities and ease population pressure here," she said.

Chairman of the Lumanti Support Group for Shelter Lajana Manandhar, who is also a member of the newly-formed Kathmandu Valley Water Management Board, said that the issue is not concerned with whether or not to go ahead with the Melamchi project.

"There is no alternative to the Melamchi project. There is nothing wrong with the project. But we have to think whether the project is going to a wrong hand or is being handled in wrong way," she said, adding that the proposed contract is not in favour of consumers.